Secret Origins Of Shinto’s Monotheism And The Sun Crow
Ancient Sun Worship And The Three-Legged Crow In Japan’s Mythology
Japan has long been home to a diverse array of spiritual beliefs, where animals have played a crucial role in mythology and religious traditions. Visitors to Nara may have noticed the large number of freely roaming deer—an enduring sign of their sacred status in Japan. Throughout history, animals such as foxes, snakes, horses, and crows have been deeply woven into Shinto mythology, each carrying symbolic significance and forming unique regional faiths. Among them, the crow stands out as an enigmatic figure, closely tied to a hidden aspect of Japan’s monotheistic traditions.
Many may be surprised by the claim that Japan harbors a secret form of monotheism, as it is widely recognized as a polytheistic culture. However, within Shinto, there exists an esoteric monotheistic belief, one that remains largely unspoken, even among the Japanese. This hidden faith is inextricably linked to the crow, and its presence can still be felt today at Kyoto’s Shimogamo Shrine, a site believed to continue practicing a form of sun worship.
Japanese mythology, as recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, is rich with stories where animals serve as messengers of the kami (神) or even manifest as kami themselves. The crow, in particular, plays a crucial role in the legendary journey of Emperor Jimmu, Japan’s first sovereign. According to the myth, Jimmu originated from Hyuga in present-day Miyazaki Prefecture. Upon learning of the fertile lands in the east, he set out to conquer the Yamato region (modern-day southern Nara Prefecture).
However, upon reaching the strategic gateway into Nara via present-day Osaka, Jimmu’s forces suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the local tribes. Unable to advance further, he was forced to change course, choosing to retreat southward along the Wakayama coast before reaching Shingu in Wakayama Prefecture. From there, his goal was to push inland, but a formidable natural barrier stood in his way—the Kii Mountain Range (紀伊山地).
The Kii Mountain Range is one of Japan’s most treacherous terrains, with peaks reaching 1,000 to 2,000 meters, today known as the sacred pilgrimage route of Kumano Kodo. It was at this critical moment that a divine guide appeared—a mysterious three-legged crow known as Yatagarasu (八咫烏). According to legend, this sacred crow was sent by the heavens as a divine messenger to lead Jimmu safely through the mountainous path, ensuring his eventual conquest of Yamato.
This enigmatic crow has long been associated with the sun and is believed to be an omen of victory. Even today, it remains a prominent symbol, adorning the emblem of Japan’s national football team.
Visitors to Kumano Hongu Taisha, the main shrine of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, will find Yatagarasu venerated on shrine plaques and sacred banners.
Thanks to this divine guidance, Jimmu successfully overcame the challenging terrain, leading his forces to victory and establishing his rule in what is now Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, where he became the first emperor of Japan. This deep connection between the imperial lineage and the crow has endured for centuries.
In ancient Shinto, animals were believed to serve as kami’s messengers, communicating divine will to humans. Some were even seen as manifestations of kami themselves. Due to its association with the imperial lineage, the crow developed a unique religious status, which only grew stronger after Kyoto became Japan’s capital in 794 AD. This is where Shimogamo Shrine comes into focus.
Shimogamo Shrine (下鴨神社) traces its origins to around 90 BCE, when the Kamo clan (賀茂氏), a powerful ancient family, enshrined their ancestral deity as a god of agriculture and fertility. The shrine’s official name, Kamo Mioya Shrine (賀茂御祖神社), translates to “The Shrine of the Kamo Ancestors.” The deity worshipped here is Kamo Taketsunumi-no-Mikoto (賀茂建角身命), who, according to legend, was the very same Yatagarasu that guided Emperor Jimmu.
It is unclear when crows became associated with the sun in Japan, but it is unlikely to be an indigenous belief. Instead, it is thought that migrants from the Asian continent brought sun worship with them to ancient Japan, integrating their spiritual practices with local traditions. The Kamo clan’s connection to this belief suggests that they may have been a newly arrived immigrant group, a theory supported by growing archaeological evidence.
Interestingly, many place names in Japan contain the word “Kamo”, which some believe to be traces of the Kamo clan’s migration across the country. Notable examples include Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto, as well as locations in Nara, Hiroshima, Aichi, Gifu, Niigata, Shizuoka, Shimane, Fukuoka, and Tokushima. These widespread geographic markers hint at the clan’s extensive reach.
Compelling evidence also exists in the legends of Shingu, Wakayama, where Emperor Jimmu is said to have landed before reaching Yamato. According to an enduring local legend, around 2,200 years ago, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, sent 3,000 people across the eastern sea in search of an elixir of immortality (不老長寿の霊薬). The leader of this expedition, Xu Fu (徐福), is believed to have landed in Shingu, where he and his followers settled permanently.
This story is more than just folklore. Xu Fu’s voyage is recorded in the Shiji, an ancient Chinese historical text, and in 1982, a village linked to Xu Fu was discovered in Jiangsu Province, China, confirming that he was indeed a historical figure. The three-legged crow, known in China as the “Three-Legged Sun Crow” (Sanzuwu, 三足鳥), is a major symbol in Chinese solar mythology, believed to inhabit the sun itself. The parallels between the Chinese sun crow and Japan’s Yatagarasu suggest that the Kamo clan may have had continental origins, bringing their sun-worshiping beliefs with them.
Thus, the legendary Yatagarasu—a mysterious, divine crow—may symbolize the arrival of an entirely different people and faith in ancient Japan. From the dawn of Japanese history to the present day, its influence continues to shape the spiritual landscape. Could the Kamo clan’s origins truly be traced back to ancient China’s sun-worshiping traditions? This enduring mystery invites us to look beyond the myths and explore the deeper, hidden roots of Japan’s spiritual heritage.
A visit to Kyoto’s Shimogamo Shrine is not just a simple tourist experience—it is a journey into one of Japan’s most profound and secretive traditions.